Newsletter February 2010: Issue 76
Monthly news and events from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire's innovation & technology service.
In this edition
- Free events available on Trade Marks and Online Legal Issues
- Make your business greener with a loan from The Carbon Trust
- Social Media Marketing - how to get your business involved
Is your Online Business Legal?
Learn about how the law affects the way you trade and conduct business online. Are you aware of the legislation covering your e-commerce business? Privacy and data protection, online contracts and liability, distance selling regulations, website design and ownership, disability discrimination and accessibility are all issues that could affect you. Does your website conform and are you protecting your business?
This free event is intended to introduce owners and managers of SME businesses to the issues of good legal practice for your business website. Our speaker is an expert in IT and E-Commerce law; he will be offering practical and authoritative advice on the range of legal issues that you need to be aware of.
Date: Thursday 25th February, 8:30 for 9:00am start, buffet breakfast provided
Venue: Towneley Hall, Towneley Park, Burnley BB11 3RQ
Creating brand value from your business
- Would you like to better understand the importance and relationship between trade marks and brands?
- Do you need to find out how to make the most of your business’s Intellectual Property?
- Are you also aware of the other forms of intellectual property such as patents, designs and copyright?
Come along to this FREE event to find out the answers and much more!
Date: Tuesday 23rd February, 9am-2pm
Venue: Haydock Park Racecourse, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0HQ
UK Trade & Investment visit
The Health Tech Hub (an initiative of the University of Central Lancashire) will be hosting a visit from Commercial Officers of UK Trade and Investment on Tuesday 16th February 2010 from 4pm-5pm at Evolution Park, Shadsworth, Blackburn BB1 2FD.
Firms that are working in the Medical field or Life Sciences are invited to meet with the UKTI commercial officers either at a general networking session or by appointment at a one to one meeting. Use the email link below to register your interest.
0% Business Loans from The Carbon Trust
Is your old equipment making your business uncompetitive? Or is it simply costing a fortune in energy bills? Our interest free loans give you the opportunity to modernise your business and reduce overheads.
Free Manufacturing Review
Small and medium size North West manufacturers have access to a manufacturing review. Experienced Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) practitioners work with you and your teams to review and assess existing working processes and identify the best areas for improvement. Use the MAS review to identify the best areas to realise profitability and productivity improvements, or for benchmarking.
Tender Notification Service 
Envirolink Northwest are offering access to The Official Journal of the European Union which publishes more than 5,000 procurement notices each week; these are public and private sector procurements that fall within EU Directives that require open tender processes. Register online to become an Envirolink member to access this service free of charge.
Social Media Marketing - Start with a blog
Leading internet marketing expert Jan Klin explains a simple way to get involved in Social Media Marketing. "There is one approach which works well for most companies, and provides a bridge to enable you to evolve into Social Media and at the same time act as a hub and focus for your other online marketing activities. It involves building a blog. I’m a much bigger fan nowadays of blogs and I really do see them as the epicentre of all your web marketing – even more so than your website."
Innovation & Technology Case Studies
Love'n my Gloven
Gloven is a new company that sells a range of homeware products. The main products are a range of highly flexible oven gloves that have been patented by the company, which are innovative and use high specification materials more commonly used in motor racing overalls.
The client contacted the DDU for advice on intellectual property and developing another route to market via an e-commerce website.
Blackburn business moves in a new era.
Mr Ahmed approached the DDU for assistance with his new venture Era3 which is planned to take his business forward in a new era. The assistance centred on the development of a marketing strategy, branding & corporate identity and the protection of the new trade mark. The new venture will market a number of products one of which is a USB memory stick.
Members of the DDU team worked with Mr Ahmed to ensure that the new venture appears to “punch above its weight” in its early days to help secure exclusive agreements with overseas suppliers.
Digital Development Unit, BTMC, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5QB
ddu@blackburn.gov.uk
